Franklin Social at Renaissance Marriott Reopens!

Franklin Social, the in-house dining option at the Renaissance Marriott on Chestnut St., opened their awnings on Thursday, July 22nd for outdoor dining. A staple in Old City, mostly known for their graffitied lobby and mysteriously romantic bar, has reopened after temporarily suspending services in March of 2020 due to the Coronavirus Pandemic. They are following all guidelines provided by the CDC including having all of their staff masked, situating their dining tables six (6) feet apart, and asking that guests wear their masks upon arriving, anytime they leave the table, and upon their departure.

My roommate and I ventured out into the sticky heat for our reservation at 5pm and upon arrival were greeted by the [ manager on site ], Seth, who showed us to our table. The seating is in front of the hotel on Chestnut Street and there are two large retractable awnings that extend over two sets of the tables. We were seated at one of those tables under the cover of shade and even in the heat, we felt comfortable.

After we were seated, Seth returned with a sheet of paper that detailed how the hotel was handling their reopening and included a QR code for us to scan and view on our phones. He set down a bottle of chilled still water with glasses and silverware wrapped in paper napkins. We scanned the menu and settle on a few things from each section of their menu. While they’re offering a pared down version of what they would normally serve, there is definitely something for everyone. Our server came out to take our drink order, letting us know that they are only serving beer and wine for now. I settled on a chianti and my roommate ordered an unsweet tea.

Once our drinks were delivered, we were ready to order. We started with a classic Caesar Salad, their Tomato, Mozzarella Salad, and the Chicken Quesadilla Shared Plate.

Now you may be thinking, “Why a Caesar salad?” I’ll be the first to say, I was also skeptical, but I trusted my roommate’s opinion and I was right to do so. I am a HUGE fan of grilled bread with salad courses so when this salad came out with what looked, to me, like the best pieces of soft, warm bread I’ve ever seen, I immediately got excited. The Caesar, while a classic and sometimes looked at as a bland choice, was exactly what you expected, but better. It was crisp and fresh and lightly tossed with Caesar dressing. The salad was also tossed with grated parmesan cheese, but I would’ve preferred a handful of shaved pieces for that sharp bite. The tomato and mozzarella salad was so fresh and so light, it was unexpected. The tomatoes were crisp and light that paired well with the thick cuts of mozzarella. The greens on the side were dressed with a light vinaigrette and I felt like I could eat it all night. Our chicken quesadilla shared plate came with 3 cuts of a large quesadilla though I would’ve preferred smaller cuts of 4. The small pourers were filled with sour cream and salsa and presented on the cutest wooden board. The quesadilla itself was filled with fresh cut veggies, bell peppers and onions, cubed chicken, and melted cheese. I really appreciated that the quesadilla tasted fresh and made to order, not previously frozen.

Entrees came next and they came out fairly quickly. We settled on two red meat options which may not have been the best idea, but that just means we need to go back to try more! The Benjamin Burger and the Steak Frites were the final choices. The Benjamin Burger comes on a toasted brioche bun, like most things should come, topped with applewood smoked bacon, cheddar, lettuce, tomato, and red onion. I did not add any condiments to this burger because as soon as I took a bite, it was so juicy and full of flavor, that it didn’t need anything extra. The bacon was just the way I like it, almost crispy, but still has some bend to it. The burger patty held together, but melted in your mouth and the toasty brioche bun helped sop up some of the juice that dripped out. Our next dish, the Steak Frites, looked like a million bucks as soon as it came out. It was garnished with a small tab of herb butter that was slowly melting on the warm cut of steak. The grill marks were done perfectly and the steak cooked just as we’d ordered it, medium rare. The steak itself was easy to cut and eat. It was soft and succulent and when you took a bite, it made you close your eyes and go, “Mmm.” Both entrées came with seasoned, thin sliced French fries and ketchup that went really well with both dishes.

Though our stomachs were on the way to being filled and I could not stop eating the fries, our sweet teeth overpowered and we ordered dessert. Two, in fact. We ordered two desserts. The heat did not stop us, although I wish it had.

Dessert started, and honestly it also ended, with a NY style cheesecake with fresh summer berries. It was chilled and soft and perfectly creamy. It reminded me of what my grandmother would serve us after big family dinners and put a smile on my face. The next dessert looked like it would put me in a diabetic coma and let’s just say I was happy to have to walk home afterwards. Our server delivered a sinful looking cake of chocolate crust, chocolate drizzle, whipped cream, and chocolate shavings, garnished with fresh berries. One would think that the heat would keep people away from wanting to indulge in something so rich, but the mousse was light and fluffy. Both desserts had us licking the plates clean.

Despite it being a desperately hot evening, our dinner at Franklin Social was delightful and just what we were looking for. The service was lovely, the guidelines were clear and concise, and the food both looked and tasted spectacular. I consider The Renaissance and Franklin Social a perfect option for dining out in Old City and am exceptionally excited for them reopening their doors for guests to stay. They are an essential part of the great options for hotels in Philadelphia. Looking forward to joining them again for a wonderful meal in the heart of our historical city! Cheers!

Monday – Saturday 5pm – 10pm , Sunday 2pm – 7pm.